Shamila Janakiraman

Shamila is a doctoral student in the Learning Design & Technology program in the College of Education at Purdue.

She is looking at the best educational technology that can be used to change attitudes and behaviors of young learners to make them environment friendly. Her focus will be on using game-based learning to affect them emotionally and provide an artificial environment for testing their own behaviors.

Why did you choose Purdue?

The online Learning Design & Technology program was a huge attraction when I lived in Dubai. Also my son was a Freshman in engineering then.

Favorite fact about Purdue

Beautiful campus. Very inclusive community of scholars. Friendly staff and faculty who respond to any query almost at once.

What alums from this country are saying about their Purdue experience

Making it to a top graduate school is one thing and how the school helps you guide to a fulfilling career is another part. A big share of my success ties back to the opportunity I had to meet great people around the campus. Let alone the resources and supports one receives as a student, these people inspire you, motivate you and get the best out of you. One such people - Dr. Crossley, an AAE faculty, have a big role for what I am today both professionally and individually. Despite being an international student, I had this opportunity to contribute to numerous NASA-funded projects that let me collaborate with several industry-level engineers and scientists working on leading-edge technologies.

A world-class education is a plus for professional development, but what I cherish the most is the accomplishment as an individual. As a part of the most culturally diversified campus, I got to see the whole world, met people from different countries, learned about their culture and, most importantly, made friends. My three months in Japan (thanks to Mary Schweitzer of GEP), as a part of the Purdue-Keio exchange program, helped me understand the work-culture difference.

Currently, I am collaborating with the Burton Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship to start a company with the vision to revolutionize General Aviation industry, making it more accessible and affordable to the public. Will I succeed? – That is not my concern, but I feel my experience at Purdue has prepared me with all the right attitude, expertise, connections and qualities needed to pursue my passion.

Satadru Roy, Ph.D.Aeronautics and AstronauticsPost-Doctorate Research Associate, Purdue University